UFC Brand Power | SCRIPT FIGHTING

courtesy of Sherdog

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is far from perfect. However, I think that the contrived feel of many UFC events is more a reflection of the lack of depth in the overall MMA talent pool than how things are run at the promotion. Regardless of its shortcomings, the UFC is still by far the best product in the MMA market.

Unless a mega fight is suddenly made between now and March 27, UFC 111 is the next UFC event I'm likely to cover. Still, I'd be fooling myself if I believed that countless fans or MMA websites around the world won't follow the events UFC 108 to 110. Or that Zuffa won't make millions of dollars from them. That is the power of the UFC brand.

As for UFC 107, it was a demonstration of the excellence that can happen when the stars align at a UFC event :

1. BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez turned out to be Dana White's answer to Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. Just like how Pacquiao schooled a valiant Cotto with superior skill and speed, Penn outclassed the never-say-die Sanchez with his sublime coordination, hands and balance.

Penn gave Sanchez lessons in boxing and takedown defense all night long. His finishing move (the second animated GIF) - a shadowless high kick set up so perfectly with punches (the second animated GIF) that it looked like Diego Sanchez didn't know what hit him - was a fatality straight out of Mortal Kombat.

2. Frank Mir put himself back into the UFC heavyweight title picture with a first-round guillotine choke of Cheick Kongo.

Mir's booming left that floored Kongo before the submission was even more impressive. The accomplished and marketable Mir is still just 30, so assuming his standup game continues to improve, he'll remain in the championship picture - especially with a cloud over Brock Lesnar's future.

3. Kenny Florian is 33, but I expect to see him fight at a high level for quite a while. He moves well on his feet, fights smart, and continues to get better.

While his knockdown of Clay Guida that set up his finishing rear naked choke doesn't make Florian a power puncher, the timing was excellent - and a result of his hard work in the gym.

In beating Guida, Kenny Florian once again proved that he's a fighter that can handle most - and a joy to watch.

P.S. If you liked this piece, then check out "Levels of Kung Fu Mastery", my post-UFC 101 piece about the skill levels of the fighters from the event.